Heena Sharma Blog

The Air Force has 13.09 per cent of women officers, the highest among all three forces, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said Wednesday. The Army has 3.80 per cent of women officers , while the Navy has six per cent of women officers, he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The Air Force has 13.09 per cent of women officers in its force. Women are recruited in the Army, Navy and the Air Force only in the officer's rank. In response to a question, on import of missiles from Russia that could attract US sanctions, the Minister said the government was aware of all developments that may impact the procurement of defence equipments. To another query, Bhamre said a Board of Enquiry has been constituted to look into the explosion incident outside the demolition pit. Read More Business Standard

More than 100 people died in rain-related incidents in Kerala in just one day on Thursday, sources in the State Disaster Management Authority said, even as defence forces scaled up operations this morning to rescue those stranded in the worst-hit areas. The toll for Thursday, initially put at 30, has now been revised to 106, the sources said, which takes the overall fatalities to 173 since the second spell of monsoon fury unleashed itself on August 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reach Kerala on Friday evening after the funeral of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He is likely to undertake an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Saturday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on Thursday said 23 more helicopters will join the rescue operations on Friday and 200 additional boats will also be pressed into service. Around 3,000 people were rescued from Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta districts on Thursday. Several people are stranded i